Situated close to the shore of Bay of Bengal in Puri, Odisha, the Jagannath Temple, dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu, is one of the most revered pilgrimage sites for the Hindus, especially to the followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, founded by Shree Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from Bengal, who lived many years in this coastal city of eastern India.

The temple is also included in the pious Char Dham pilgrimage sites, located at the four corners of the country, consisting of the Badrinath Temple in Badrinath in the north, Dwarkadheesh Temple in Dwarka in the west, Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameshwaram in the south, and Jagannath Temple in Puri in the east. Interestingly, the idol of Lord Jagannath installed in the temple is made of wood, unlike the stone and metal icons found in most of the Hindu temples, and is ceremoniously replaced by an exact replica, along with the replicas of Subhadra, his sister and Balabhadra, also known as Balarama, his elder brother, every 8, 11, 12 or 19 years, traced to some astronomical and astrological considerations. Another unique feature related to the temple is its annual Ratha Yatra, or Chariot Journey, a famous festival involving a crowded public procession, in which the three principal deities of the temple, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are taken out from the temple, put on their respective huge and decorated Rathas or wooden chariots, and pulled along the main street of Puri for around 3 km to reach the temple of Gundicha.

The Puri Jagannath temple was rebuilt by King Anantavarman Chodaganga of the Eastern Ganga dynasty in the 10th century, which is evident from the Kendupatna copperplate inscription of his descendant, Narasimhadeva II.

However, as Anantavarman was originally a follower of Lord Shiva and became a Vaishnsvite only after he conquered the Utkal region in 1112 AD, it is estimated that the construction of the temple started sometime after that. It is also estimated that the construction of the temple was completed or renovated during the reign of Anangabhim, the son of Anantavarman, and the temple complex was further developed during the reigns of the subsequent kings of the Ganga dynasty, as well as by the Gajapati dynasty. According to Madala Panji, a chronicle of the temple, the temple was invaded and plundered eighteen times, which include the invasion of Kalapahad, a Muslim convert general, in the 16th century.

The huge complex of the Jagannath Temple, containing not less than 120 temples and covering an area of more than 4000,000 sq feet (37,000 sq m), is surrounded by a 20 feet (6.1m) high fortified wall, known as Meghanada Pachira, while another wall known as Kurma Prachira surrounds the main temple.

Standing on a raised platform of stone, with a height of roughly 214 feet above the inner sanctum where the deities are installed, the Puri Jagannath Temple, reflects a striking example of Kalinga architecture, and is decorated with gorgeous sculptures and excellent carvings, along with a majestic shikhara or spire that rises to a height of 190 feet (58 m) in the sky.

The temple consists of four distinct structures, comprising the Vimana or Garbhagriha, the sanctum sanctorum, where the three deities, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are seated on a pedestal, known as the Ratnavedi, the Jagamohan or the porch, the Natamandira or the dancing hall and the Bhogamandapa, the offering hall, built in a row. The Bhogamandapa is the place where the Lord's offering, known as the Mahaprasada is prepared on fire lit by wood charcoal, and rice, vegetables, cereals, and other foods are placed in earthen pots, stacked on top of each other on the fire. Among its four entrances, the Singhadwara, or the lion Gate, facing the east on Grand Road, and named after the two huge statues of crouching lions on the either side of the entrance, is the main entrance. A sixteen-sided monolithic pillar with an idol of Arun, the charioteer of Surya, the Sun God, on its top, which stands in front of the Singhadwara and is known as the Arun Stambha, was brought from its original location in the Sun Temple at Konark by Brahmachari Gosain, a Maratha Saint. The gate is additionally decorated with the statues of Jaya and Vijaya, the two guards of the temple, standing on either side of the doorway. The three other entrances, facing north, south and west, are named after the sculptures of animals guarding them, and are known as the Hastidwara or the Elephant Gate, the Vyaghradwara or the Tiger Gate and the Ashwadwara or the Horse Gate. The top of the Jagannath temple is crowned with the Nilachakra, or the Blue Wheel, the eight-spoked discus of Lord Vishnu, made up of an alloy of eight metals, or Asta Dhatu, mounted on the top of the shikhara. As per the prevailing custom, everyday a different flag, known as the Patitapabana, is hoisted on the Nilachakra.

Apart from the main temple, the complex contains around thirty other smaller temples, which include among others, the Ganesha temple, Nilamadhaba temple, Gopalaballava temple, Lakshmi temple, and Vimala temple, considered as one of the important Shaktipeethas. Today, the temple complex is being maintained by The Archaeological Survey of India, who undertook a project in 1975, to remove the multiple layers of lime plaster to uncover the original designs hidden under it. The project took two decades to complete, to exhibit the lost beautiful colour of the monument, made of Khondalite stone, which was used by King Anantavarman in the 10th century. The Jagannath Temple, one of the most spectacular temples of India, is a living testament to India’s rich cultural and religious heritage, which attracts millions of devotees, scholars, and tourists throughout the year from around the world.